You know you’ve been “Ukrained” when…

“Ukrained” definition: Essentially, culture shock. More specifically, when a Peace Corps Volunteer, living in Ukraine, experiences a sort of cultural misunderstanding or incident resulting in awkwardness, discomfort, embarrassment and/or surprise.

You know you’ve been “Ukrained” when…

‎…you misinterpret what a man says and end up riding an hour on a marshrutka (bus) in the wrong direction.

‎…you shrug and get out to push the bus with the rest of the guys.

…you agree to help a man hold a chicken only to soon find out you’ve become an accomplice in its beheading.

…you’re told the mystery meat you just ate was nutria.

…when you finally go to rinse the soapy clothes you’ve been hand washing for an hour in the tub and the water goes out.

…your school director tells you you’ll have to deliver a speech – in Russian – about teaching healthy lifestyles to Ukrainian youth with only an hour notice.

…your counterpart drags you out of bed at 7 a.m. without telling you why (or to even dress appropriately) and takes you to the newspaper office, where a staff of reporters and a photographer are waiting.

…when any purchases of food or drink in the bazaar are accompanied with a “to your health” statement or prayer.

‎…when you know, personally, the cow where you get your milk; and have stepped in the (massive) piles of poop it has left in your yard.

…you go to get your haircut and you end up with a flattop. And when you ask for the woman to cut off some more, she simply tells you, “no.”

…you sign 40 autographs at a school with 35 students.

…you show up to give a 30 minute lesson for an 8:30 start and the director asks if you can teach until 10.